Integrated electric motor differential for hybrid electric vehicles

Abstract

An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle. The electro-mechanical drive train includes a housing and a pinion shaft having a first end disposed within the housing and a second end in communication with a combustion engine. A differential is disposed within the housing and in combination with the end of the pinion shaft. An electric motor is also disposed within the housing and in actuating combination with the pinion shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:
 a differential and an electric motor, disposed within a common housing; 
 a pinion shaft including an end disposed within the common housing and an opposite end extending from the housing, the pinion shaft in combination with the differential and the electric motor, wherein the electric motor comprises a rotor in actuating combination with the pinion shaft within the housing and a stator fixed to the housing and disposed around the rotor, and wherein the differential comprises a pinion gear at the end of the pinion shaft and a ring gear coupled with the pinion gear; and 
 a planet gear in combination with a planet carrier that is connected to the pinion shaft, wherein the planet gear engages both the rotor and a stationary ring gear fixed to or integrated with the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 1 , wherein the differential is selected from the group consisting of an open differential, a limited slip differential, a viscous coupling differential, a locking differential, and a torque sensing differential. 
     
     
       3. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 1 , further comprising an internal combustion engine in combination with the opposite end of the pinion shaft. 
     
     
       4. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 1 , wherein the stator is integrated with the housing. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle comprising the electro-mechanical drive according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       6. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a reduced diameter portion and the planet gear engages the reduced diameter portion and the stationary ring gear. 
     
     
       7. An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a pinion shaft having an end disposed within the housing and an opposite end extending from the housing; 
 a differential disposed within the housing and in combination with the end of the pinion shaft; 
 an electric motor disposed within the housing, the electric motor comprises a rotor in actuating combination with the pinion shaft within the housing and a stator fixed to or integrated with the housing and disposed around the rotor; and 
 a plurality of planet gears in combination with a planet carrier that is connected to the pinion shaft, wherein the planet gears engage both the rotor and a stationary ring gear fixed to or integrated with the housing. 
 
     
     
       8. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 7 , wherein the differential comprises a pinion gear at the end of the pinion shaft and a ring gear in combination with the pinion gear. 
     
     
       9. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 8 , further comprising two axle shafts in combination with the differential. 
     
     
       10. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 9 , wherein the differential further comprises two side gears, each of the side gears attached to an end of one of the two axle shafts, and two axle pinion gears, each of the two axle pinion gears connected to the ring gear and in combination with the two side gears. 
     
     
       11. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 7 , wherein the housing is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the differential is disposed in the first chamber and the electric motor is disposed in the second chamber. 
     
     
       12. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 7 , wherein the differential is selected from the group consisting of an open differential, a limited slip differential, a viscous coupling differential, a locking differential, and a torque sensing differential. 
     
     
       13. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 7 , further comprising an internal combustion engine in combination with the opposite end of the pinion shaft. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle comprising the integrated electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
       15. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 7 , wherein the rotor comprises a reduced diameter portion and the planet gears engage the reduced diameter portion and the stationary ring gear. 
     
     
       16. An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a pinion shaft having an end disposed within the housing and an opposite end extending from the housing; 
 a differential disposed within the housing and in combination with the end of the pinion shaft; 
 an electric motor adjacent the differential, the electric motor comprises a rotor in actuating combination with the pinion shaft within the housing and a stator fixed to or integrated with the housing and disposed around the rotor; and 
 a plurality of planet gears in combination with a planet carrier that is connected to the pinion shaft, wherein the planet gears engage both the rotor and a stationary ring gear fixed to or integrated with the housing. 
 
     
     
       17. The electro-mechanical drive train according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor comprises a reduced diameter portion and the planet gears engage the reduced diameter portion and the stationary ring gear.